sousaphone bell cover

[punk_tuba]

Hello,
I am looking to have a Custom Sousaphone Bell Cover made.
Does anyone have suggestions or positive experiences with companies that does this kind of work?

thanks,

[Dan Schultz]

You haven't looked very hard.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sousaphone-Bell-Cov ... 5ad42f241d

[punk_tuba]

CUSTOM being the key word......positive experience the real reason for the post.
has anyone actually done this? not looked it up on google.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Here's a link to the web page of the company Dan was nice enough to find for you. There's tons of testimonials and sample pictures from bands all over using their products. I'm sure they'll be able to do whatever CUSTOM design you want, and the price looks reasonable, too. Check them out.

[bearphonium]

My partner made mine, after checking out you-tube. Way less money than we could find listed.

PM me if you're really interested in making one.

[Tuba Guy]

There was a topic along these lines a couple months (weeks?) ago
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39240" target="_blank

[MileMarkerZero]

Seriously?

Go to the fabric store and buy a square yard of the fabric you want and a long length of 3/16" elastic (see below to figure out how long). Cut a circle of fabric that has a 4" greater radius than your bell (bell diameter + 8"). Lay the elastic in ts relaxed state on a table and make a mark 4" from one end. Now stretch it and measure from the end to the mark (you might need an extra set of hands to do it). Now you know your expansion rate for the elastic. For the sake of argument, let's say it's 2:1. Let's also say for the sake of argument that your bell is 26". Your fabric circle will be 34" in diameter. You need to sew the elastic in its stretched state all around the circumference of the fabric circle. If the expansion ratio is 2:1, you need a length of elastic that is 1/2 the circumference of the fabric circle.

C=2Πr ------> C= 2 x 3.14154 x 17 ------> C= ~107"

107 ÷ 2 = 53.5"

Adjust the divisor according to the expansion rate of the elastic (if it's 1.5:1, divide 107 by 1.5, etc.)

You need an elastic strip that is at least 53.5" (roughly, and if the expansion rate is 2:1).

Start sewing, stretching the elastic along the outside edge of the fabric as you go. It would be a good idea to put some sort of hem or other reinforcement along the edge of the fabric. This can all be hand-stitched, you don't need a machine. You might even be able to get away with a lot of safety pins and fabric glue (remove the pins after the glue has dried). When you get back to where you started, cut off the excess elastic (you did buy it a foot or so too long, right?) and stitch down the end. You now have a bell cover. 'Taint rocket science.